For scientific papers on AGW, record happenings in the Arctic and the Greenland, Himalayan and Antarctic icesheets. Also weatherstorms and higher than average rainfalls and other extreme weather events.

A dramatic shift in temperature caused roads to melt and damage cars in Queensland, AustraliaAround 50 people could be entitled to receive compensation after a road melted and damaged a number of cars.

A dramatic shift in weather in Queensland, Australia caused the tarmac on the roads to melt and stick to car tyres and bodywork.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) was forced to close the Malanda Millaa Millaa Road near Tarzali on the Atherton Tablelands yesterday to perform emergency repairs on the road surfaces after a series of complaints, reports ABC.au.

According to reports, bitumen on a recently resurfaced road melted around car tyres and even caused parts of cars to break off.

Motorist Bridget Daley said the bitumen not only coated her tyres but also stuck her mudguard, snapping it off.

"I was absolutely horrified to find that there was three inches of bitumen coated around all four wheels of my vehicle," she said.

"There were people that were pulled up on the side of the road and they were in total and complete disbelief as to what had happened to their vehicles."

The incident is said to have been caused because the resurfaced road was damaged during a spell of wet weather, which was followed by extremely hot weather.

The road is estimated to have affected around 50 carsDistrict director Sandra Burke described how the incident occurred.

“It's a combination of factors," she said.

"We have extreme weather conditions on Malanda Millaa Millaa Road … unusually cold weather and wet weather combined with works at hand and the short impact of the hot weather yesterday caused the situation to occur."

She added that the department would offer compensation for any affected vehicle or damaged property caused by the road surface.

PLAY SLIDESHOWCracks are appearing in the dry banks of March Haigh reservoir PA1 of 11Cracks are appearing in the dry banks of March Haigh reservoirCracks are appearing in the dry banks of March Haigh reservoirMarch Haigh reservoir shows the impact the hot weather is having on the banksA dried up reservoir near Manchester shows the extent of a serious water situationCracks are appearing at Wayoh Reservoir near ManchesterNational Trust volunteers on the dry banks of March Haigh reservoir near KirkleesThe dried up Wayoh Reservoir near ManchesterThe Earlswood reservoir near Solihull, Birmingham is suffering in the heatwave"All claims for compensation will be assessed on a case by case basis," Ms Burke said.

"TMR will ensure compensation is paid as soon as possible."

"I have never seen anything like it and when the reports started coming through yesterday, it was just incredible," local mayor Joe Paronella told the ABC.

"There are so many innocent people caught in this and if anyone who has damage to their vehicles to do with the failure of these roadworks need to contact Main Roads," Cr Paronella added.

"I would certainly be talking to the department about possible compensation."